- 11 hours ago
The Housewife He Threw Away Is a Billionaire
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00My husband told me to sleep with other men. This was the 10th time this month. I caught him with
00:06his new assistant at the office.
00:09Aria, you find someone, I find someone. Open marriage. Nobody gets hurt.
00:14Damon dropped onto the couch. He didn't look sorry. He thought I would cry. I used to cry. Not anymore.
00:21Every billionaire on Wall Street does this.
00:23He lit a cigar.
00:25Stop acting like a saint. Try it. You might like it.
00:28I smiled. He had no idea who he married three years ago. He thought he married a quiet housewife, soft
00:33spoke, always looking down. That was a costume.
00:36I was the only daughter of the Vale family, one of the oldest fortunes in New York.
00:40Every rich boy on the East Coast wanted me. None of them got me.
00:46I threw it all away for a guy with nothing.
00:50Lone sharks beat him half to death and left him in an alley. It was a mistake.
00:55Okay. His head snapped up.
00:57What?
00:58I said okay. I smiled at him. Remember, you asked for this. He laughed at me. He didn't believe me.
01:05Aria, you've got no one. What are you going to do besides sit at home?
01:08He was half right. I had no friends. I cut off everyone in New York for him.
01:14But there were other people. The ones I used to blow money with in Manhattan clubs three years ago.
01:19They were still waiting.
01:21Damon ripped off his tie and threw it on the floor.
01:23Get some sleep. You'll thank me later.
01:26He went upstairs. The next morning, he brought her home. Camille. The intern. 22 years old. Her skirt barely covered
01:34anything.
01:34She plopped down on my Persian rug. Her coffee spilled in the middle of it.
01:38Oops. Sorry ma'am. She wasn't sorry.
01:41Damon walked out of the studio. He looked at the stain. He put his arm around her.
01:45It's just a rug. We can buy a new one.
01:49I picked up my phone and called the housekeeper.
01:52Throw the rug out. Throw out the men's slippers next to it too. In the trash.
01:57Damon's face stiffened. He grabbed Camille's waist and pulled her toward the door.
02:01I'm taking her to the charity gala tonight. You don't mind, do you?
02:05He was waiting for me to break. I smiled.
02:08Have fun. Don't bother coming home. The door slammed shut. I went to my closet. In the very back, behind
02:15a pink gown I hadn't touched in three years, there was a black travel bag.
02:18I hadn't touched it since my wedding day. Inside was one red slip dress and three black cards with no
02:24limit.
02:24A set of Ducati keys. One Borster phone with one number sword.
02:28I picked up the phone and dialed. It rang twice. A voice burst through the line over loud metal music.
02:35Aria? Oh my god, you're alive?
02:37I looked in the mirror. Soft. Pale. Wearing a boring dress Damon picked out.
02:43Black Diamond Club. Tomorrow night. Eight.
02:46Tell me what you want.
02:48Clear the place out. Round up every billionaire left in the city. I'm back.
02:52The next night was the Crawford family dinner. I walked in wearing that red slip dress.
02:57Camille was already sitting in the hostess spot. She had Damon's jacket thrown over her shoulders.
03:03Around her neck was the emerald necklace. Every Crawford bride had worn it at her engagement.
03:08It went all the way back to Damon's great-grandmother. Damon's mother, Alessonor, used to keep it locked in a
03:14safe.
03:14She told everyone I came up from the slums on the Lower East Side.
03:18According to her, I didn't deserve the Crawford name. That's why I never got to wear it.
03:23Now it sat on her son's mistress, placed there by her own hands.
03:30Vivian looked at me sideways.
03:32Is that the Crawford necklace?
03:34Mom finally took it out of the safe?
03:37Eleanor raised her voice.
03:39Camille knows her place. She deserves it.
03:42Damon sat at the head of the table playing with his lighter.
03:45He wouldn't even look at me.
03:47Eleanor held Camille's hand and laughed.
03:49Camille is so warm and well-behaved.
03:51Not like some women. Stiff as a board.
03:54Boring. No wonder men go looking elsewhere.
03:58The whole table laughed.
03:59These were Damon's Wall Street friends.
04:02Tech money.
04:04Heirs.
04:05Men who used to follow him around and call me Mrs. Crawford.
04:09Camille stood up with a wine glass.
04:10She walked over to me slowly.
04:12Smug.
04:13Aria.
04:15Don't be upset.
04:16Damon said you agreed to the open marriage.
04:19We all live under one roof now.
04:21Let's keep the peace, okay?
04:23Damon's friends laughed at me.
04:25God, she is such a coward.
04:27The mistress is in the main seat and she doesn't say a word.
04:31Damon, you're a genius.
04:33A wife at home and women everywhere else.
04:36Best of both worlds.
04:37They thought I was still the housewife.
04:39Damon smirked.
04:40He waited for me to sit down quietly like always.
04:43I didn't take her glass.
04:45Instead, I picked up the crystal racanger
04:47and poured the entire bottle of red wine over her head.
04:51Dark red ran down her hair,
04:53down her cheeks,
04:54into her dress.
04:56The laughing stopped.
04:57Aria!
04:59Relax!
05:00I didn't move.
05:01I just looked at him.
05:03He'd never seen me like this.
05:09I agreed to an open marriage.
05:12I looked around the table at those Wall Street men
05:14who thought they were special.
05:15I never agreed to sit down for dinner
05:17with some cheap intern.
05:29The night air hit my face.
05:31For the first time in three years,
05:33I finally felt alive.
05:35Eight o'clock.
05:36The Black Diamond Club,
05:38every top supercar in New York,
05:40was sitting out front.
05:42Damon's Porsche rolled up right then.
05:45Camille was on his arm.
05:47He was planning to show her off.
05:49He was planning to walk right in
05:51and pop the most expensive bottle on the menu.
05:54Sorry, sir.
05:55The club's closed to the public tonight.
05:57Closed?
05:58I'm Damon Crawford.
05:59I'm on your VIP list.
06:01Get your manager out here now.
06:02The bodyguards did not blink.
06:03Mr. Crawford,
06:04the whole place has been bought by a VIP tonight.
06:06Management said nobody gets in,
06:08not even you.
06:09In all of New York,
06:10you could count on one hand
06:12the people who could shut down
06:13the Black Diamond Club
06:14with a single call.
06:15These were some of the
06:16ten wealthiest people in the country.
06:18These were the people
06:19Damon had been chasing for years
06:20and never got close.
06:22Who was in there?
06:23Camille whispered.
06:24How should I know?
06:25Damon said through his teeth.
06:27Can we just go somewhere else?
06:28Camille pulled his sleeve.
06:30I already ordered the champagne for tonight.
06:32Shut up!
06:33Right then,
06:34the front doors opened from the inside.
06:39Heavy music hit the street.
06:42Spotlights flooded the VIP booth
06:44in the center of the room.
06:45A woman was stretched out
06:47on a black velvet couch.
06:49She had on a red-slip dress
06:50with a deep-open back.
06:52Her long, dark hair
06:53pilled over her pale shoulders.
06:56God, she's gorgeous!
06:58Camille gasped.
06:59And around her were all those men.
07:01The men Damon had been trying
07:02to get a meeting with for years.
07:04Wall Street kings
07:05and tech giants.
07:07Forbes cover guys.
07:08And they were all crowded
07:09around her booth.
07:13Camille's breath caught.
07:15I thought he never set foot
07:17in Manhattan.
07:18And Whitrock!
07:19He was at the president's dinner!
07:21Damon's face drained white.
07:23The woman on the couch
07:24slowly turned.
07:25Casual,
07:26like none of them mattered.
07:27She glanced toward the door.
07:28No real interest.
07:29That's not possible.
07:31It was his wife.
07:32The quiet woman
07:33he'd called boring.
07:35Who only wore plain dresses
07:37because he picked them out.
07:38He was convinced
07:39she couldn't survive
07:40a day on her own.
07:42Aria!
07:43What the hell are you doing?
07:45Dressed like that?
07:46Get up!
07:52Come home with me.
07:54Right now.
07:55The music cut.
07:56Every eye in the room
07:58landed on him.
07:59I sat on the couch
08:00and looked at him.
08:01My face was blank.
08:03Then I felt a heavy presence
08:04step up behind me.
08:05Tall.
08:06Built.
08:07Black shirt open at the collar.
08:08He tugged at his collar.
08:10His eyes were cold violence.
08:12Cade Ashford.
08:13Head of Ashford Group.
08:17Good evening, Damon.
08:19Cade's voice was almost gentle.
08:21The whole room went dead quiet.
08:34His hand slid to my waist
08:36and pulled me into him.
08:38His warmth wrapped around me.
08:40So I showed your wife
08:41what a real man feels like.
08:43You get to watch.
08:45Damon couldn't breathe.
08:47Kay's shoe was pressing
08:48the air out of his chest.
08:50Cade, please.
08:51This is a private matter.
08:53Aria's my wife.
08:54She was your wife.
08:55Cade did not even look at him.
08:56A scream tore through the room.
08:58Damon!
08:58Mr. Ashford, please.
09:00Let him go.
09:01She actually thought
09:02her tears could fix this.
09:03Aria, how could you side
09:05with this stranger
09:06against your own husband?
09:09Cade glanced over.
09:11His eyes swept over her.
09:13Pure disgust.
09:14What's that smell?
09:15Cheap perfume?
09:16Before she could say
09:18another word,
09:19two bodyguards grabbed her.
09:20They dragged her out
09:21and tossed her down the steps.
09:23She hit the concrete.
09:25Her scream cut off.
09:26Every eye in the room
09:28went back to Damon.
09:29I settled back
09:30onto the velvet couch,
09:32picked up my glass,
09:33and swirled the champagne.
09:35Then I looked down
09:36at the man pinned
09:37under Cade's foot,
09:38my husband.
09:39A smile crept
09:40across my face.
09:42What's got you so mad, Damon?
09:45I tipped his chin up
09:47with the point of my heel,
09:49just like he used to do to me.
09:51Didn't you say
09:52this was just a game?
09:53Didn't you tell me
09:54every man on Wall Street
09:55does this?
09:56I leaned back
09:57against Cade's chest.
09:59The warmth of him
10:00came right through his shirt.
10:02His arm wrapped around my waist,
10:04firm and steady.
10:05A low, satisfied laugh
10:07came from behind me.
10:09Tonight I found a real man.
10:10I'm going to sleep with him.
10:13I looked down at Damon
10:14and smiled.
10:15Feel free to pull up a chair
10:16and take notes.
10:19Aria!
10:21Damon's eyes were bloodshot.
10:23You...
10:24Get him out of here.
10:25He's annoying my woman.
10:26The bodyguards
10:27tossed Damon down the steps.
10:29He landed right on Camille.
10:31Inside, everyone laughed.
10:33The crowd took the hint
10:34and cleared out.
10:35The doors swung shut
10:37behind them.
10:38Cade pushed me back
10:40against the mirrored wall.
10:41His hand slid down my waist.
10:44Three years, Aria.
10:46He bit my lower lip.
10:50Do you know what I thought
10:51about every morning
10:51for three years?
10:53Hmm?
10:54Taking you back
10:54from that loser.
10:56Pinning you down
10:57on my bed.
10:59Making you say my name
11:00until you lost your voice.
11:02He laid me back
11:03on the bed
11:04and started unbuttoning
11:06his shirt.
11:09In such a rush,
11:11he smiled.
11:14Come here.
11:15Take it off for me.
11:19I sat up slowly.
11:21I slipped the straps
11:22of the red dress
11:23off my shoulders.
11:24I was not wearing a bra.
11:26I only had black lace panties on.
11:29He swallowed hard.
11:31Aria,
11:32you're beautiful.
11:33Now you?
11:35He pulled off his shirt
11:36and threw it on the floor.
11:37He was down
11:38to black boxers.
11:40He used his knee
11:41to push my legs apart.
11:42He leaned down
11:43over me.
11:44His kisses started
11:45on my lips.
11:46They ended
11:47at my chest.
11:49Make some noise.
11:50I want to hear it.
11:52Cade.
11:53Good girl.
11:55Just like that.
11:55His hand slid
11:56down my stomach.
11:58It went into
11:58my panties.
11:59The moment
12:00his first finger
12:01went in,
12:01I grabbed his shoulder
12:02and gasped.
12:03He added a second finger
12:05right away.
12:06Slow but precise.
12:07He pressed the spot
12:08that drove me crazy.
12:10His thumb
12:11made slow circles.
12:13The rhythm
12:13was enough
12:14to drive me crazy.
12:16But not enough
12:17to finish.
12:19So wet.
12:20He whispered
12:21in my ear.
12:21So eager?
12:22Shut up.
12:23He bit my earlope
12:24as a reward.
12:25His fingers
12:26moved faster.
12:28Right as I was
12:28about to come,
12:29he pulled his fingers
12:30out.
12:30No!
12:31I opened my eyes
12:32in disbelief.
12:33Not yet.
12:34He pushed himself
12:35up.
12:35I want to be
12:36inside you
12:37when you come.
12:38He slowly
12:38pushed inside me.
12:40Three years.
12:41My body
12:42had forgotten
12:42this feeling.
12:43He was much
12:44bigger than Damon.
12:45Every inch
12:46sent shocks
12:47through my body.
12:48Relax.
12:49He whispered,
12:50kissing my forehead.
12:51I will take care
12:52of you.
12:53Too deep.
12:55It can go deeper.
12:56We both groaned
12:57when he was
12:57all the way in.
12:58Look at me,
12:59Aria.
13:00I looked at him.
13:02You're mine now.
13:03He started moving.
13:05The first thrust
13:06was deep
13:06and hard.
13:07It pushed me
13:08up the sheets.
13:10He pulled me
13:11back by the waist.
13:12Another hard thrust.
13:14The bed started
13:15hitting the wall.
13:16Faster.
13:17Harder.
13:18He bent down
13:18and took my breast
13:19in his mouth.
13:20His tongue
13:21matched the rhythm.
13:22Cade, lower.
13:24No.
13:25He was breathing hard.
13:27Three years.
13:29I can't wait.
13:30He changed the angle.
13:31Every thrust
13:32hit that spot.
13:33Pleasure came in waves.
13:35My moans
13:36mixed with his low breaths.
13:42Cade.
13:44I'm going to...
13:46Say my name.
13:50Cade.
13:52I can't.
13:53Cade, please.
13:56On his next hard thrust,
13:58I lost control.
13:59My body squeezed him tight.
14:01He hissed through his teeth.
14:03He did not give me time
14:04to recover.
14:05He flipped me over
14:06and made me kneel
14:07on the bed.
14:07Then he pushed back in
14:09from behind.
14:16Not done yet.
14:18He leaned over my ear.
14:21I said you would scream
14:22until your voice was gone.
14:24This angle was deeper.
14:25My body could not recover
14:26before new pleasure hit.
14:28Too much.
14:30Cade.
14:31You can handle it.
14:34One more time.
14:35He bit my shoulder.
14:37After that,
14:37I lost track of time.
14:43By the time the sky
14:45started to lighten,
14:46I had lost count
14:47of how many times I came.
14:49I was lying on his sweaty chest,
14:51breathing hard.
14:52His fingers ran leisurely
14:54through my tangled hair.
14:55He whispered in my ear.
14:57Can you even move?
15:00No.
15:03Liar.
15:06Cade.
15:07Yes.
15:08One more time.
15:12He gave a low laugh.
15:14He rolled over
15:15and prinned me under him again.
15:17That was the first time
15:18in three years
15:18I felt like myself
15:19in any man's bed.
15:21By sunrise,
15:22news of Damon
15:23being thrown out
15:24of the Black Diamond Club
15:25had spread through
15:25all of Wall Street.
15:27Every power layer
15:28on Wall Street saw it.
15:29The Crawford group
15:30became a joke.
15:32So did Damon.
15:33But Damon
15:34was not giving up.
15:36He stormed home.
15:37The sight of the empty closet
15:38made him punch the wall.
15:42By then,
15:43he already knew
15:43where I had spent the night
15:44and whose bed it had been.
15:50My phone lit up.
15:51A message from Camille.
15:53Area,
15:53don't get cocky.
15:54Damon says Kate
15:55is just playing with you.
15:56When he gets bored,
15:57you are finished.
15:57Damon has frozen
15:58all the joint accounts.
15:59You'll be out on the street
16:00by next week.
16:01You'll come crawling back.
16:02Just wait.
16:05I was lying in Cade's bed
16:07reading these messages.
16:09I started laughing.
16:11What's so funny?
16:13Cade walked out of the bathroom.
16:14He was drying his hair.
16:17My ex-husband,
16:18he wants to freeze my accounts.
16:20Oh?
16:22He raised in highbrow.
16:23That is funny.
16:26Oh?
16:26Freeze my accounts?
16:27Did Damon really think
16:29Crawford Group
16:30made its money
16:30because of him?
16:32Did he really think
16:33the stock price
16:34went up for three years
16:35because of his
16:35pathetic business skills?
16:37He forgot one thing.
16:39My maiden name is Vale.
16:41The Vale family
16:42pulled out of Wall Street
16:43decades ago.
16:44But a sleeping giant
16:46is still a giant.
16:47And my grandfather
16:49left a network
16:49of offshore companies.
16:51Nobody at Crawford Group
16:52ever checked them.
16:53Darling,
16:54it's time.
16:57Yes.
16:59For three years,
17:00I had been on my knees.
17:02I begged every senior Vale relative
17:04who had stepped back
17:05from the business
17:05and moved the family's
17:07secret funds out of Switzerland.
17:09Every revenue stream
17:10that kept Crawford Group
17:11alive was something
17:12I built.
17:13Damon's empire
17:14was my work.
17:15I rolled over
17:16and called.
17:18Pull every Vale dollar
17:19out of Crawford Group.
17:21Cut every supply chain.
17:22Let it go bankrupt.
17:23Two hours later,
17:25the Crawford Group
17:26headquarters
17:26was a war zone.
17:28Damon was sitting
17:29in his CEO office.
17:31Camila was crying
17:32on his lap.
17:33He was telling her
17:34everything would be fine.
17:36His assistant
17:37kicked open the door.
17:38He'd gone pale.
17:40Boss,
17:41the European suppliers
17:42just ended the contracts.
17:44All cargo
17:44is stuck in port.
17:46Damon stood up.
17:47What?
17:48The penalty fees alone
17:49will bankrupt us!
17:52His phone
17:53would not stop ringing.
17:54The office phone
17:55would not stop ringing.
17:57Every line
17:58had a panicked voice
17:59on it.
18:00Boss,
18:01the Wall Street banks
18:02just denied
18:03the loan extension.
18:04They want full payment
18:05in 48 hours.
18:07Boss,
18:08three top investors
18:09just dumped
18:09their Crawford Group stock.
18:11Our share price
18:12is crashing.
18:15Boss,
18:16the Manhattan
18:17real estate project
18:18pulled out.
18:19they say
18:20our cash flow
18:21has collapsed.
18:26In half a day,
18:28the empire Damon
18:29had built
18:29for three years
18:30was crumbling.
18:32Who did this?
18:33Cade?
18:34Was this an Ashfield Groupie?
18:36Tell me!
18:38An hour later,
18:40his assistant
18:40came back.
18:41His hands were shaking.
18:43He held a file.
18:44Boss,
18:45it wasn't Ashfield Groupie.
18:46Damon ripped the file
18:48out of his hand.
18:48He flipped
18:49to the last page.
18:53The name of the
18:54offshore parent company
18:55that cut all the funding
18:56was sitting there,
18:57quiet,
18:58choking him,
18:59owner,
19:00sole shareholder,
19:01founder,
19:02Aria Vile.
19:03Damon dropped
19:04to the floor.
19:05All the color
19:06had drained
19:06from his face.
19:10No, no, no, no, no, no.
19:12He whispered.
19:13The boring wife
19:15he thought
19:15couldn't even dress herself
19:16had been holding him
19:17by the throat
19:18this whole time.
19:20This can't be right!
19:22The woman who washed
19:23his shirts,
19:23the silent decoration
19:25at his board dinners,
19:26that was the same person?
19:27He was about to run out
19:28when Camille grabbed his arm.
19:30Damon,
19:32wait,
19:33I need to tell you something.
19:35Her voice shook
19:35just the right amount.
19:36I'm pregnant.
19:37Damon stopped cold.
19:38What did you just say?
19:40I'm carrying your child.
19:42Aria was married to you
19:43for three years
19:44and gave you nothing.
19:46I'm already pregnant.
19:48I'm carrying
19:49the only legal heir
19:50of the Crawford family.
19:52Your grandfather's family trust
19:54says it clearly.
19:55You need a Crawford blood hair
19:56to touch the main fund.
19:58When the baby is born,
19:59he will use that money
20:00to save us.
20:05Damon turned around slowly.
20:07He grabbed Camille's shoulders.
20:09Are you sure?
20:12100% sure.
20:13A child.
20:15A legal heir
20:16for Crawford Group.
20:17Grandfather Arthur
20:18would not let the last
20:19of the Crawford bloodline
20:20end up on the street.
20:22Damon kissed Camille
20:22hard on the forehead.
20:24He had no idea
20:24Camille's play
20:25was about to blow up
20:26in both their faces.
20:28The next morning,
20:29Camille charged
20:30into the Ashvin Group tower.
20:32She caught word
20:33that Cade was passing
20:34through the lobby.
20:35She pushed past security.
20:37Her voice cut
20:38through the whole lobby.
20:39Mr. Ashvin!
20:40Don't let that liar fool you!
20:42Every executive
20:43in custom suits
20:44turned to look.
20:45Aria is a dirty whore.
20:47She acted clean
20:48for three years
20:49married to Damon,
20:50but she was sleeping
20:51with tons of men
20:52behind his back.
20:53Now she dares to seduce you?
20:55She just wants to use you
20:56for revenge on Damon!
20:58She's damaged goods!
21:00Every executive
21:00in the room
21:01held their breath.
21:02Oh?
21:03His voice stayed soft.
21:05You say you are
21:06carrying Damon's child?
21:07Yes!
21:08Camille thought
21:08Cade was listening.
21:10She got louder.
21:11She's a cold-blooded lunatic!
21:13What I'm carrying
21:14is Damon's flesh and blood!
21:16She destroyed Crawford Group
21:17because she is jealous
21:18of my relationship
21:19with Damon!
21:20Mr. Ashford,
21:21a man like you,
21:24how could you want
21:25a woman like that?
21:26Damon ran into the lobby
21:27sweating.
21:28He slapped Camille
21:29hard across the face.
21:30The sharp sound
21:32made the executives flinch.
21:33Shut your filthy mouth!
21:35Damon was shaking
21:36with rage.
21:37He grabbed Camille's arm.
21:39You stupid fool!
21:41You have no idea
21:43who you just offended!
21:45Cade laughed coldly.
21:46He snapped his fingers.
21:48His assistant
21:49handed him an envelope.
21:50Cade tossed the envelope
21:51at their feet.
21:52Mr. Crawford,
21:53since you are here,
21:55let me show you
21:56your unborn lair.
21:57The envelope
21:58landed on the floor.
21:59The contents spilled out.
22:03The first showed Camille
22:05on the lap
22:05of a bald rich man.
22:07In another,
22:08she was hanging off
22:09the arm of an old man.
22:10A third caught her
22:12on a yacht,
22:13surrounded by three men.
22:14At the bottom
22:15was a medical report.
22:17Patient,
22:17Camille Ross.
22:19Diagnosis.
22:20Permanent infertility.
22:22Three abortions.
22:23Severe damage
22:24to the uterine wall.
22:25Damon stopped breathing.
22:26Permanent infertility.
22:28He stared at the words
22:29and read them again.
22:30When his eyes
22:31lifted to Camille,
22:32he grabbed her hair
22:34and slapped her again,
22:35hard.
22:36You dared to lie to me?
22:38Her lips split open.
22:39Blood ran down her chin.
22:42Damon,
22:43please,
22:44let me explain.
22:46She cried
22:47and crawled toward him.
22:48Damon lifted his foot
22:50and kicked her hard
22:51in the stomach.
22:52In front of every executive,
22:53security guard,
22:54and front desk worker
22:55in the lobby.
22:56The former CEO
22:57of Crawford Group
22:58and his lying mistress
22:59were rolling on the floor
23:00like a couple of animals.
23:02Cade took out his phone,
23:04snapped a photo,
23:04and sent it straight to me
23:06with a message.
23:07No.
23:08Darling,
23:10two stray dogs
23:11are fighting in my lobby.
23:12Can I get a little reward tonight?
23:14Three days later,
23:16Crawford Group
23:16officially filed for bankruptcy.
23:18Breaking news from Wall Street.
23:20Crawford Group
23:20filed Chapter 11 this morning.
23:22Sources say
23:23CEO Damon Crawford
23:24has gone missing
23:25from his offices.
23:26Damon went from
23:27a rising Wall Street star
23:28to flat broke.
23:30Lone harks were coming for him
23:31all over the city.
23:33You've got until Friday, Crawford.
23:35One growled through his phone.
23:36Then we come find you.
23:39His board fired him overnight.
23:42Every rich friend
23:43he used to run with
23:44blocked his number.
23:45Camille cleared out
23:46what was left in his safe
23:47and vanished.
23:50The worst blow
23:51came from the nursing home.
23:52Crawford Group's founder,
23:53his grandfather Arthur,
23:55saw the news
23:55and had a stroke
23:56right in his armchair.
23:57You ruined us.
24:00The old man slurred
24:01from the hospital bed.
24:02Arthur was partly paralyzed.
24:04Damon had to pawn
24:05his last Rolex
24:06to pay the hospital bill.
24:08After that,
24:09he had nothing.
24:12That night,
24:13a storm hit the city.
24:15I was on my way back
24:16from the Vale family's
24:18private estate
24:18when my headlights
24:20caught a figure
24:20kneeling outside
24:22Cade's iron gate.
24:24It was Damon.
24:26He was soaked through,
24:27his custom suit
24:29caked in mud,
24:30his hair stuck to his face.
24:33He'd been kneeling out
24:34in the rain for hours.
24:36He saw my car.
24:37He threw himself
24:38at the gate.
24:39Aria!
24:41Aria, it is me!
24:42Open the gate!
24:44Please!
24:45His voice was shot.
24:47I sat in the warm car
24:48and looked at him
24:49without a word.
24:50He cried.
24:52This time,
24:53the tears were real.
24:55That CEO mask
24:57he'd been wearing
24:57for years
24:58finally cracked.
25:01Aria,
25:01I was wrong.
25:03I was dead wrong.
25:06Do you remember?
25:08Three years ago,
25:10the rain was just like this.
25:11Those lone hares
25:13beat me half to death.
25:15They left me
25:16in a back alley
25:16like trash.
25:20You were the only one
25:21who came.
25:22You took me home.
25:24You said you would
25:25stay with me forever.
25:27For you!
25:28I climbed
25:29and fought my way up!
25:33Camille means nothing.
25:34I was just jealous of Cade.
25:36I just wanted
25:36to make you mad.
25:37But I swear,
25:38I never wanted
25:39to let you go.
25:41I swear to God!
25:43Aria,
25:44Aria,
25:45just give me
25:45one more chance!
25:47Let me come back
25:48to you!
25:50I'll spend
25:50the rest of my
25:51limelife
25:52making it up to you.
25:53I swear.
25:58Damon banged
25:59his forehead
26:00against the cold
26:01iron gate.
26:02The car door opened.
26:03With a black umbrella
26:04raised over my head,
26:06I stepped out
26:07and walked through
26:07the puddles
26:08to the gate.
26:09Damon's bloodshot
26:10eyes lit up
26:11with joy.
26:11He thought
26:12I was softening.
26:14He reached
26:15through the gate bars.
26:16He tried to grab
26:17the hem of my coat.
26:18Just like three years
26:20ago in that muddy alley,
26:21a strong arm
26:22wrapped around
26:23my waist.
26:25Cade was standing
26:25behind me.
26:26I had not heard
26:27him come up.
26:28He took off
26:29his expensive
26:30black caramere coat.
26:31His wrapped-it body
26:32blocked all the wind
26:33and rain.
26:34Cade looked down
26:35at Damon in the mud.
26:37Damon's hand
26:37froze in the air.
26:39I stepped out
26:40of Cade's arms.
26:41I threw a folder
26:43at Damon.
26:43Divorce papers.
26:45I already signed.
26:46Damon stared
26:47at the folder.
26:49Damon,
26:50remember the night
26:51you wanted to divorce
26:52me for that woman?
26:53I gave you
26:54a last chance.
26:55I kicked the folder
26:56into the mud
26:57at his knees.
26:59You're not just
27:00a cheating husband.
27:02You are a fool.
27:03I turned
27:04and stepped back
27:05into Cade's arms,
27:06rising on my toes
27:08to whisper in his ear.
27:09Just get him to sign it.
27:11Don't let him
27:12stop me from going
27:12home with my man.
27:14Cade smiled.
27:16He picked me up
27:17in his arms.
27:18He walked through
27:19the gate.
27:20The gate slammed
27:21shut behind us.
27:24Damon was still
27:24kneeling in the storm.
27:28Damon didn't sign.
27:30He lost it.
27:31He camped outside
27:33my apartment
27:33every day
27:34and blew up
27:34my phone with texts.
27:36Crying.
27:37Threatening.
27:38Begging.
27:38Area.
27:39I know I was wrong.
27:40Three years of love.
27:41You cannot be this cold.
27:43Did Cade force you
27:44into this?
27:44Tell me.
27:45I'll kill him.
27:46Let me come back.
27:47I'll be your driver.
27:48Your bodyguard.
27:49Please.
27:51I didn't reply
27:52to any of them.
27:56I blocked his number.
28:01Damon waited for me
28:02at the racetrack
28:03and at the riding club.
28:06Twice he threw himself
28:07in front of my car.
28:09Cade was patient.
28:10Until one day,
28:11Damon ran to the gate
28:12of the Vail private club.
28:13He cut off my car
28:14and screamed
28:15that he'd die right there.
28:17Cade's Bucati
28:18pulled up next to my car
28:19at the same moment.
28:21Cade rolled down
28:21his window.
28:24He looked at me
28:25and smiled softly.
28:27Darling.
28:28Close your eyes.
28:30Count to a hundred.
28:33I closed my eyes.
28:34The window went up.
28:35The rain sounds outside
28:37cut off.
28:38I heard Damon scream.
28:40A dull thunt.
28:42Then dead silence.
28:43I counted to one hundred
28:45and opened my eyes.
28:47Damon was gone.
28:48Cade was leaning
28:49on my car door.
28:50He was playing
28:51with a custom silver lidding.
28:54He smiled like a gentleman.
28:56Trash is handled, darling.
28:58Let's go home.
28:59The next day,
29:00the news hit Wall Street.
29:02Ashfield Group
29:03buys out all of
29:04bankrupt Crawford Group's debt.
29:06When Crawford Group collapsed,
29:08the debt got split up
29:09across dozens of investors.
29:11Damon still dreamed
29:12of a comeback,
29:13but now Cade
29:14was his one
29:14and only creditor.
29:16Cade's top law team
29:17went in.
29:18Within a week,
29:19Damon's penthouse
29:20was seized.
29:21His sports car
29:22was towed.
29:22His grandfather
29:23Arthur's
29:24offshore trust
29:25was frozen.
29:26Seesage notice.
29:27Please cooperate.
29:30Cade Ashfield?
29:31That bastard!
29:33Damon roared.
29:34He smashed a vase.
29:36Sir,
29:37if you keep breaking things,
29:39we call the police.
29:42Damon was personally
29:43responsible
29:43for two billion dollars
29:45in debt.
29:46The court declared him
29:47completely bankrupt.
29:48His bank accounts
29:49were frozen.
29:50Every credit card
29:51was cancelled.
29:52He could not even pay
29:53for a cup of coffee.
29:54His old rich friends
29:55avoided him like the plague.
29:57He called them
29:58one by one.
29:59Nobody picked up.
30:00Henry.
30:01It's me!
30:02He yelled
30:03into voicemail.
30:04Pick up!
30:06Lend me some money.
30:07I'll pay you back.
30:08I promise!
30:10No one called back.
30:12The last thing
30:13that broke him
30:13was his mother,
30:14Eleanor.
30:14When she found out
30:15Cade was now in control
30:16of Crawford Group,
30:17she had her second stroke.
30:19Damon pawned
30:20his last gold chain
30:20to put her in
30:21the cheapest hospital
30:22in Brooklyn.
30:23The grand lady
30:23who used to look down
30:24on me was now stuck
30:25in a bed that
30:26reeked of disinfectant.
30:27She cursed out
30:28Damon and Camellia
30:29around the clock.
30:30You useless fool!
30:32The old woman
30:33raised a trembling hand.
30:35I should have pushed
30:36you to marry
30:36the Veil girl!
30:38Damon froze.
30:40Mom,
30:41what did you just say?
30:42The Veil heiress.
30:43Half the men
30:44in this city
30:44would have done
30:45anything to get near her.
30:46She breathed hard.
30:48And you had to go
30:49and marry some girl
30:49with nothing.
30:51He couldn't bring himself
30:52to tell his mother
30:53that the girl
30:53with nothing
30:54was the Veil heiress.
30:55He couldn't get
30:56the words out.
30:57A week later,
30:58a wet envelope
30:59arrived for me.
31:01The signed divorce papers.
31:05The day I got
31:05the divorce decree,
31:07I didn't cry.
31:09I headed straight
31:10to the Veil
31:10International Racetrack.
31:12A red Ferrari
31:13roared down the straight.
31:14I took the last turn
31:15at 190 miles per hour.
31:17She's pushing 200!
31:19She's gonna crash!
31:19Someone in the stand screamed.
31:21The crowd went crazy
31:22as I crossed
31:23the finish line in first.
31:24My helmet came off
31:26and my long hair
31:27fell loose.
31:29Did she just break
31:31the track record?
31:32A reporter gasped
31:33into his mic.
31:34The whole place
31:35went dead quiet.
31:36The crowd parted for me.
31:38Cade walked through
31:39the crowd towards me.
31:40In a black custom suit.
31:41A huge bouquet
31:43of red roses
31:43in his arms.
31:44In front of New York's
31:45top elite and media,
31:46he went down on one knee.
31:48He opened a black velvet box.
31:50Inside was a pink diamond.
31:52Flawless.
31:53Huge.
31:53Aria.
31:54Cade's dark eyes
31:55were locked on me.
31:56I don't want an open
31:57relationship or some fling.
32:00I'm not here
32:00for a short-term thrill.
32:03He raised the ring.
32:05I want every morning
32:06with you.
32:07The arguments,
32:08the gray hair,
32:09all of it.
32:10Take my name.
32:11My empire,
32:12my life,
32:13if you want it.
32:14He smiled.
32:16Dangerous and beautiful.
32:18Marry me, darling.
32:20Be mine.
32:22I looked down at him.
32:23I grabbed him by the tie
32:24and pulled him up.
32:26In front of the whole crowd,
32:27I kissed him hard.
32:30The whole racetrack
32:31went crazy.
32:32The cheers were deafening.
32:36Across the city.
32:37Hot sun.
32:38The edge of Manhattan.
32:39A construction site.
32:40Heavy heat.
32:41Damon was carrying
32:42two heavy bags of cement.
32:43His expensive suit trance
32:45were rags.
32:45His face was covered
32:46in mud and sweat.
32:47His hands had blood busters.
32:49Hey, new guy!
32:50Faster!
32:50The foreman shouted.
32:51Coming.
32:52Damon said with his head down.
32:54Two billion in the hole.
32:55Cut off from everyone
32:56he used to know.
32:58He worked 12-hour days
32:59at this site,
33:00just trying to scrape
33:01together enough
33:02for his mother's
33:02hospital bills.
33:03He stopped.
33:04He wiped the sweat
33:05off his face
33:06with the back
33:06of his dirty hand.
33:08Hey!
33:09Look at the screen!
33:11An older worker
33:12nodged him.
33:13That woman is beautiful.
33:18Damon looked up.
33:20The giant LED screen
33:22in Timescreet
33:23was playing
33:24the racetrack proposal
33:25on loop.
33:26The red racing suit.
33:29The huge pink diamond.
33:32And the woman
33:33laughing in the sunlight.
33:36The man who had
33:38all of Wall Street scared
33:39was down on one knee
33:40in front of her.
33:41Is that Cade
33:42from Ashford Group?
33:44The old worker gasped.
33:46Where is he's married
33:47to the Veil Heiress?
33:48She's the one
33:49who took Crawford Group down.
33:51Cold-blooded.
33:51The cement bag
33:52slipped off Damon's shoulder
33:53and landed right on his foot.
33:55Hey!
33:56Your foot!
33:56Did it hit you?
33:57He didn't feel it.
33:58The old worker pushed him.
33:59He couldn't hear.
34:00He recognized her.
34:01It was the wife
34:01he'd called boring.
34:02The one he threw away
34:03for an intern.
34:04And now she was the queen
34:05of the Ashford Empire.
34:06The most powerful woman
34:07in New York.
34:08Damon's knees buckled.
34:09He went down.
34:10This guy is not okay.
34:11Heat stroke?
34:12Leave him.
34:13Keep working.
34:14He sat there in the dirt,
34:15face buried in his bloody hands.
34:17Over the noise
34:18of the construction site,
34:19he sobbed.
34:20He'd thrown away
34:21a priceless diamond
34:22with his own two hands.
34:23All to chase after garbage.
34:25At the racetrack,
34:26I slipped into the passenger seat
34:28of Cade's black Bugatti.
34:30He fired up the engine
34:32while I slipped on my sunglasses.
34:36The window dropped
34:37and the wind hit my hair.
34:39I never looked back.
34:42We tore down the open road
34:44towards the life
34:46that was always mine
34:47to begin with.
Comments